Numerical simulation of the SAGD process in the Hangingstone oil sands reservoir

This paper presents a simulation study of a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process applied to the Hangingstone tar sands reservoir. Two pairs of 500 m long horizontal wells installed from the surface are considered. The study was conducted to forecast recovery performance and to further understand the oil production mechanism. Results predicted that more than 60% of the oil can be produced in six years of operation with a steam-oil ratio of less than 3.0. The study was extended to provide a visual understanding of the flow behaviour of steam, oil, and water in the reservoir. The fluid flow diagrams revealed that oil is displaced mainly by steam condensate and that convective energy carried by steam condensate dominates the heat transfer mechanism. The authors applied this recovery mechanism concept to the study of subcooling temperature optimization for the steam trap control. The results of this reservoir dynamics study are presented. Finally the role of this process's geomechanical effects are briefly discussed.